High Maintenance
November 21st, 2008 by Cindy
I wanted to add this “timely” story about mail delivery considering all the discussion that has been ongoing in Cheshire regarding this subject:
As most of you know, the local papers have been following ongoing meetings of the Cheshire Field Turf Study Committee which is deliberating the worthiness and cost of putting in artificial turf at Cheshire High School.
The town has already accepted over $500,000 in grant money from the state. However, estimates put the FINAL cost at nearly $1 million. This is probably true if Field Turf-Tarkett is chosen. Representatives were at the last Cheshire Field Turf Study Committee.
They are very upscale and high quality.
There are many companies that manufacture and install artificial turf. Field Turf-Tarkett is an internationally known (like me), company. Many NFL teams have Field Turf-Tarkett installed at their stadiums.
I know many of you are wondering if some people in town have lost their minds with this type of high cost professional scale project for a HIGH SCHOOL. But, these people have plenty of company in justifying this type of expense, especially in Massillion, Ohio. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS FACILITY FOR THEIR HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS!!
IMPRESSIVE TO SAY THE LEAST. EXPENSIVE TO SAY THE MOST.
Click here for Field Turf-Tarkett site
Click on “Americas” and then click on “Turf”
I am linking you to another artificial turf company to compare:
And here is a site that touts “synthetic turf for sale”
Lastly, a SAD SAD commentary on our times: THE END OF NEWSPAPERS.
I LOVED the newspaper business. They said it was the worlds second oldest profession.
It was not a job, it was a way of life. It was hard, intense pressure. But it was rewarding knowing that you produced a product that was different every day. And it was the ultimate in satisfaction and accomplishment.
But honestly, the reason newspapers are going down the drink is because people really don’t read. And if they do, they want it fast and to the point.
Today, many “reporters” don’t know how to report. They don’t know what interests people. I remember when I started in the late 70’s at my LOVE paper the Norwich Bulletin as a reporter. I had an editor whom I HATED. THIS MAN was the DEFINITION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT. I mean, he would try to come over and “visit” at 3 a.m. !!
BUT, this man whose name I will not mention, taught me how to be a reporter. The key: FOLLOWING UP ON STORYS!!! Getting leads on information by establishing good sources.
Many reporters today do not want or can’t spend the time doing this. I blame this trend on the 24 hour cable news services we have today.
Everything today is ‘breaking news” These people would not know real breaking news if it shoved itself up their backside. To them, breaking news is half-fact-fast fast fast, get it before someone else does.
I remember being at the Post the day the Challenger blew up in 1986. This was before the Internet. We had the AP and UPI teletype room. News would spew out of those machines all day and night. BUT, when you heard the BELL RING your heart would literally stop. Why? Because you knew something earth shattering was occurring and you were the first people to literally read each word of that incident as it was being typed out on the teletype. There was no CNN or MSNBC or FOX News then. You would race to the machine, read the words and then rush to confirm and make telephone calls. There was nothing more exciting than that!!
When I was a girl, I dreamed of being a reporter. And you know what–I WAS!! And I did it for many years, and will continue by writing on Undergroundtownhall. My heart is breaking that in three or four years, there probably will not be any newspapers in Connecticut.
Let me give the local paper a hint: fancy mastheads and electronic tricks don’t work.
Taking the time to develop sources, track down leads, taking your time to make sure you are accurate and knowing what people want to read–HONESTY AND FAIR BALANCED REPORTING-FOLLOWING UP-MAKING GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE-KEEPING YOUR NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE-WAS AND IS THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL NEWSPAPER REPORTING.
As was with the blacksmith of a hundred years ago, so goes the newspaper business.
I always said, if I was breathing my last breath on this earth, I would be proud to say I worked as a newspaper reporter. If God struck me now, I know I lived. I did what few people could do and do well.
There was and is no other job like it and there never will be-on this Earth.
